National Cook for Your Pets Day 2024: When It Is & How It Is Celebrated

Updated on Feb 6, 2024

Every day, you get up and your pet is there to love you and show you how much they care. But did you know that there’s a National Cook for Your Pet Day on November 1st of each year?

You can head into the kitchen and make something special for them, solidifying your close bond. It’s a way to show your pet how much you love them by making them special to chow down on. Since our pets usually eat the same thing day after day, it’s nice for them to get something a little different every once in a while, and National Cook for Your Pets Day is a great excuse to do it.

When Is National Cook for Your Pets Day?

National Cook for Your Pets Day falls on November 1st every year. This makes it easy to keep up with, but it also means it can fall on any day of the week.

Still, it’s a great way to show your dog that you love them by doing something a little special for them. You simply make some food for them, and then if you want, you can even share it on social media using the #CookForYourPetsDay tag on social media for a little more attention.

Two dogs sitting behind the kitchen table_Fotyma_shutterstock — Image Credit: Fotyma, Shutterstock

The 5 Great Pet Foods You Can Make Yourself

If you’re looking to celebrate National Cook for Your Pets Day, there are a few different types of foods you can make for them. We’ve highlighted five of our favorite options for you here:

1. Pet Cookies

This is one of the most popular ways to celebrate Cook for Your Pets Day. There are countless pet cookie recipes out there for just about any pet you might have, and it doesn’t require quite as much work as a full-blown meal.

Still, pets love fresh treats, so why not do something a little special for them on November 1st? Even better, if you double the recipe, they’ll have plenty of fresh cookies for days to come!

cat hiding behind the refrigerator in the kitchen — Image Credit: Evgeny Haritonov, Shutterstock

2. Pet Food

National Cook for Your Pets Day only comes once a year, so why not go all out for it? There are tons of fresh pet food recipes out there, and you can make any one of them for your pet. Just be careful to get your pet food recipe from a reliable source so you’re not feeding them something they shouldn’t have.

Not only that but if you have an extremely picky eater, you might want to be careful. You don’t want to wind up with a pet hooked on a fresh recipe you don’t plan on keeping up with.

3. Peanut Butter Treats

Peanut butter is a great healthy treat for pets and there are tons of recipes that use it. You can make peanut butter-flavored cookies, peanut butter cup treats, and so much more. Just ensure any peanut butter you’re using doesn’t have xylitol, as this is toxic for many pets. Xylitol is a common ingredient in low-fat and nonfat peanut butter.

dog eating peanut butter — Image Credit: Elizabeth Foley, Shutterstock

4. Fruits or Veggies

This isn’t exactly “cooking” for your pets, but if you’re in a rush or just busy that day, there’s no reason you can’t get them some fresh fruits and veggies as a treat. Research what fruits and veggies are safe for your pet and then pick some up from the store. Just remember to wash them thoroughly and cut them into bite-sized pieces.

5. Meats

If you have a dog, cat, or another omnivore pet, cooking some meat for them is one of the simplest ways to celebrate Cook for Your Pets Day. Don’t add any additional seasonings or flavorings to the meats though; simply cook them, dice them up, and feed them to your pet!

Jack russell terrier lies with a huge bowl of raw minced meat — Image Credit: Kira_Yan, Shutterstock

Conclusion

While National Cook for Your Pets Day is November 1st each year, there’s no reason you can’t make delicious meals for them any day of the year. This day is just another great excuse for you to go a little above and beyond for your pet, and we all know they more than deserve it!

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Featured Image Credit: Sjale, Shutterstock